Studies: COVID-19 virus can spread through feces, surfaces contaminated by presymptomatic patients
Infectious virus in feces is a common manifestation of COVID-19, according to a study from China published today in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal.
“Our findings indicate the need for appropriate precautions to avoid potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from feces,” the authors said. “Discharge and hospital cleaning practices should consider this possibility for critically ill patients or those who died who had high viral loads and are more likely to shed infectious virus.”
Another study from China published in the journal investigated environmental contamination in two rooms of a quarantine hotel after two presymptomatic students who stayed there were laboratory-confirmed as having coronavirus disease.
“We detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA on eight (36%) of 22 surfaces, as well as on the pillow cover, sheet, and duvet cover,” demonstrating that presymptomatic patients can easily contaminate environments, the authors said. “Our data also reaffirm the potential role of surface contamination in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the importance of strict surface hygiene practices, including regarding linens of SARS-CoV-2 patients,” they said.
In other COVID-19 news, CDC released:
- an advisory providing a case definition for a recently reported multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19; and
- a detailed summary of its initiatives to support COVID-19 response and the president’s plan to reopen America.